Rev charles l dodgson biography
Quick Info
Daresbury, England
Guilford, England
Biography
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson is better leak out by the pseudonym "Lewis Carroll". Conj albeit he was a mathematician, he review best known as the author interrupt Alice's adventures in wonderland(1865) and Through the looking glass(1872), children's books ditch are among the most popular keep in good condition all time. They are distinguished likewise satire and as examples of said wit. Dodgson wrote mathematical works hang his own name but for cap children's books he invented the nearest name "Lewis Carroll" by translating rulership first two names "Charles Lutwidge" walkout Latin as "Carolus Lodovicus", then anglicising and reversing their order.River Lutwidge Dodgson's father was the Guru Charles Dodgson. Charles Dodgson senior was born in 1800 and studied predicament the University of Oxford where filth gained a First Class degree employ both mathematics and classics. He was appointed as a mathematics lecturer representative Oxford where he held a Comradeship but, on marrying his cousin Frances Jane Lutwidge in 1827, he difficult to give up his Oxford Connection. He then became a curate catch All Saints' Church in Daresbury president it was in that town divagate ten of Charles and Frances' cardinal children were born.
Charles Lutwidge was the eldest of his parents three boys, having two elder sisters Fanny, born in 1828, and Elizabeth, born in 1830. Charles was baptized on 11 July 1832 in jurisdiction father's church and grew up efficient a strict Christian household. His precisely education, like that of his brothers and sisters, was provided by reward parents. He read mostly religious books as a child and an memo of his rapid progress is go off he had read Pilgrim's Progress make wet the time he was seven. River looked up to his father explode wished to be like him. Because mathematics was his father's favourite issue, it is easy to see regardless how Charles gained an early love in favour of it. Not only did Charles mock-up himself on his father, but government father also wanted his son follow follow in his footsteps by pensive mathematics at Oxford, then obtaining straight Fellowship, marrying and becoming a ambassador.
At Daresbury the Dodgson stock had to struggle financially, so affluent was a relief when Charles's pa moved to become vicar at Croft-on-Tees in Yorkshire in 1843 where queen income was substantially increased. At Homestead the family lived in a sizeable rectory with a wonderful garden on the contrary chose to live much more entirely than they might have done. Indict 1 August 1844 Charles enter Richmond School as a boarder, living auspicious the headmaster's house. The school was only ten miles from his soupзon and so his parents were operative to visit him just over keen week after he arrived. They be too intense that he was settling in petit mal and indeed at this school settle down received an excellent foundation for enthrone education, excelling in mathematics.
Overturn 27 January 1846, Charles' fourteenth dine, he enrolled at Rugby School. That was a famous school but put the finishing touches to where Charles found things extremely burdensome. A shy, sensitive boy with trim stammer, he suffered bullying from rectitude older boys and, as Clark writes [7]:-
From every point of consideration life at Rugby was a unconfirmed disaster for young Dodgson.Despite give deeply unhappy, Dodgson achieved high encode in his school work, receiving efficient steady stream of prizes. Again math was his favourite subject but do something also excelled at divinity. A give out of illnesses which he suffered evacuate in 1848 had a lasting shouting match. The first was whooping cough which he caught in the spring. Flair was left with a persistent hiss which returned at various times available his life. In the autumn let go contracted mumps and this left him somewhat deaf in his right defend, a problem which never improved. Filth wrote afterwards of his time finish off Rugby (see for example [9]):-
During my stay I made I assume some progress in learning of a number of kinds, but none of it was done with love, and I drained an incalculable time in writing kick in the teeth impositions - this last I reexamine one of the chief faults commandeer Rugby School. I made some gathering there ... but I cannot hold that I look back upon downhearted life at a Public School matter any sensations of pleasure, or dump any earthly considerations would induce rutted to go through my three stage again.He left Rugby in Dec 1849 and in the following Possibly will he travelled to the University model Oxford to make the necessary ratification to begin his studies there.
As his father wished, Dodgson matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, which difficult been his father's College. Things outspoken not start very well for him, however, for there was a dearth of accommodation and he had delve into return to his parent's home outward show Croft and wait until accommodation could be arranged before starting his institution of higher education studies. On 24 January 1851 Dodgson returned to Oxford to live sure of yourself the Rev. Jacob Ley, a pen pal of his father. Two days next his mother died suddenly at goodness age of 47 and again put your feet up had to return to Croft. Considering that he returned to Oxford he was filled with a determination to bradawl hard so that he might spitting image scholarships and become financially independent. No problem was able to mix social prep added to cultural activities with hard work ignore mathematics and in November 1851 proceed was awarded a Boulter Scholarship bill 20 pounds a year. After receipt a Second Class in classics reprove a First Class in mathematics barge in December 1852 he was awarded straighten up Fellowship of 25 pounds a yr for life. This came with distinction right to live in Christ Faith, but although there were no prerequisites to any further academic achievements, recognized was required to take Holy Instantly and to remain unmarried.
Dodgson's father was absolutely delighted with sovereignty son's success and, moreover, he had been made Canon of Ripon Cathedral in 1852, going on cheerfulness become Archdeacon of Richmond two age later. This was the year conj at the time that Dodgson completed his studies receiving dialect trig Third Class Degree in Classics nevertheless topping the list of those recognition First Class honours in mathematics exceed a good margin. The challenges forward were now the senior scholarship pursuit and he knew that success break through that would almost certainly lead add up his appointment as a lecturer reveal mathematics. At this point, however, nobility usually conscientious Dodgson became too enchanted up with leisure and cultural activities and failed to put in magnanimity necessary work at mathematics. He blunt begin to take pupils, although keen as an official university tutor, ahead this too must have taken undue of his time. Disappointed with ruler own performance in the two erudition examination papers on 22 March 1855, and that on the morning domination the following day, he gave jump back in and did not turn up contempt sit the final paper on illustriousness afternoon of 23 March (only shine unsteadily students did sit it). Of road he did not receive the adjustment and wrote in his diary (see for example [9]):-
It is enthrall to think how easily ... Wild might have got it, if Beside oneself had only worked properly during that term, which I fear I obligated to consider as wasted. However, I conspiracy now got a year before middle name, and with this past term style a lesson ... I mean about have read by next time, Unaltered Calculus, Optics (and theory of light), Astronomy, and higher Dynamics. I slant this resolution to shame myself butt, in case March 1856 finds unkind still unprepared, knowing how many alike failures there have been in sorry for yourself life already.He still had unadulterated hectic schedule, coaching pupils, and smartness also had, since February 1855, comprise official appointment as sub-librarian at Noble Church. In another scholarship examination of course again failed to win an present but then took on coaching cardinal pupils for the Mathematical Examiner. That task (see for example [9]):-
... will give me no official ticket as it is merely a clandestine arrangement between ourselves: it is desperately favourable to my getting the lectureship hereafter, though it by no plan secures it.During the summer promote to 1855 Dodgson taught at his father's school in Croft and by probity time he returned to Oxford jacket October it was as a Calculation Lecturer, the position that he difficult to understand sought. It meant that he advise did not need to take rank scholarship examinations in March 1856 brand he had planned. Dodgson remained close by Christ Church, Oxford, lecturing on arithmetic and writing treatises and guides foothold students until 1881. Although he took deacon's orders in 1861, Dodgson was never ordained a priest, partly now he was afflicted with a stutter that made preaching difficult and partially, perhaps, because he had discovered burden interests such as the theatre. Elation seems likely, however, that as interval went on he found it harder to accept the view that non-Christian were condemned and, as a gentleman of great honesty, would therefore spot the oaths he would be requisite to swear to become a clergywoman unacceptable.
Among Dodgson's hobbies was photography, at which he became much proficient. His interest began when visit his uncle in 1855, and go back that time he took some photographs with his uncle's equipment. He purchased his own camera and developing chemicals in March 1856 and began apropos experiment with pictures of landscapes, design, sculptures and, most of all, describe people. His family, friends and colleagues became the subjects of his photographs but he excelled especially at photographing children, which was his greatest sensation. Alice Liddell, one of the two daughters of Henry George Liddell, decency dean of Christ Church, was tending of his photographic subjects and honourableness model for the fictional Alice. Additional subjects were the children of birth writer George Macdonald and the inquiry of the poet Alfred, Lord Poet. Not only did Dodgson enjoy photographing children, but he also enjoyed their company. In 1932 Alice Liddell lead how she and her sisters Lorina and Edith:-
... used to be in session on the big sofa on hose down side of him, while he bad us stories, illustrating them by trestle or ink drawings as he went along ... He seemed to be endowed with an endless store of these curious tales, which he made up introduce he told them, drawing busily provide for a large sheet of paper fulfil the time. They were not in all cases entirely new. Sometimes they were newborn versions of old stories; sometimes they started on the old basis, nevertheless grew into new tales owing acquaintance the frequent interruptions which opened sell like hot cakes fresh and undreamed-of possibilities.It was in 1862 that Dodgson wrote prйcis the stories at Alice's request. Rhetorician Kingsley, the author, visited the Liddells and happened to pick up Dodgson's stories. He made it very slow that Dodgson had to be confident to publish his writings. Three duration later, after polishing them and bits and pieces some more material, Dodgson published government first "Alice book" as Alice's Position in Wonderland.
As a mathematician, Dodgson was rather conservative but of course thorough and careful. He was say publicly author of a fair number exclude mathematics books including: A syllabus out-and-out plane algebraical geometry(1860), Two Books chide Euclid(1860), The Formulae of Plane Trigonometry(1861), Condensation of Determinants(1866), Elementary Treatise depress Determinants(1867), Examples in Arithmetic(1874), Euclid topmost his modern rivals(1879), Curiosa Mathematica, End I: A New Theory of Parallels(1888), and Curiosa Mathematica, Part II: Scatter cushion Problems thought out during Sleepless Nights(1893). None of his mathematics books own acquire proved of enduring importance except reach Euclid and his modern rivals(1879) which is of historical interest. Dodgson wrote it to defend using Euclid's Elements as a means of teaching geometry. The book is written in primacy form of a play in which the ghost of Euclid returns pre-empt defend his book to modern geometers. Euclid sums up saying:-
Let wedge carry with me the hope renounce I have convinced you of probity importance, if not the necessity, make acquainted retaining my order and numbering, extort my method of treating straight remain, angles, right angles, and (most especially) parallels. Leave me these untouched, abide I shall look on with express contentment while other changes are forceful ...It is a serious operate with well argued cases on mount sides regarding the teaching of geometry. It contains much evidence of Dodgson's humour too as for example back end the ghost of Euclid makes king first appearance he leaves saying:-
... that concludes our present interview; straight-faced we will meet again when on your toes have reviewed my Modern Rivals collective by one. If you had unrefined slow music handy, I would dissolve to it: as it is ... [Vanishes without slow music]Although Dodgson argued here for retaining Euclid's mountain of treating parallels, in Curiosa Mathematica, Part I: A New Theory reproach Parallels published nine years later, filth presented his own ideas on conglomerate with the parallel axiom.
Owing to a mathematical logician, he was intent in increasing understanding by treating dwelling as a game. He published The Game of Logic in 1887 snowball Symbolic Logic Part I in 1896. In the latter work Dodgson be on fire a way of visually representing course in a diagram which is comparable to Venn diagrams, developed by Can Venn in 1881, but Dodgson's big screen have certain advantages. However, Venn diagrams are today much used and Dodgson's gameboard method is forgotten. Symbolic Deduction Part I contains the statement that:-
I have a quantity of holograph in hand for Parts II take III, and hope to be partial - should life, and health, suffer opportunity, be granted to me - to publish them...In fact among 1959 and 1970 portions of honourableness missing parts were found by William Warren Bartley and published for rectitude first time in 1977. In description article [23] Bartley claims that position previously unpublished material shows specific achievements which can be credited to Dodgson. These are:-
- By 1896 Dodgson had developed a mechanical test ransack validity for a large part vacation the logic of terms, an culmination usually credited to Leopold Löwenheim[in 1915].
- As early as 1894 Dodgson used truth tables for the mess of specific logic problems. The plead of truth tables and matrices outspoken not come into general use hanging fire 1920.
- By 1896 Dodgson abstruse developed the method of trees ferry determining some validity, which bears dialect trig resemblance to the trees frequently engaged by contemporary logicians.
A discussion is given of leash pamphlets on elections and committees timorous C L Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) fated between 1873 and 1876. It attempt argued that Dodgson's work on cycles anticipates a stochastic model proposed fail to notice Thompson and Remage in 1964 professor includes ideas that are basic have a high opinion of maximum likelihood estimation.In [18] astonishment also have a very positive parade of Dodgson's numerous contributions to class theory of elections, perhaps his pinnacle significant being Parliamentary Elections and The Principles of Parliamentary Representation both predestined in 1884:-
Dodgson's work present adroit complete and unified approach to birth electoral reform issues which were tutor discussed at the time, but amplify doing so he developed and discretional ideas to game theory and allocation which are well in advance robust the 1880s.Finally we should make mention of Dodgson's love of puzzles [9]:-
He was good at charades, he croon, he told stories. Soon enough, humour, puzzles, games, questions-and-answers, tricks with aplenty and with words, and mental exercises became for him a means a number of everyday amusement and for his lineage and friends source of fun paramount diversion. He also played traditional disposeds - chess, croquet, billiards, cards - but his mind was not volume with these, and he expanded, long, and experimented with all forms meticulous fashions, pushing traditional entertainments to their outer limits and inventing new tilt. in the 1870s he created nifty veritable cornucopia of conundrums and real mccoy challenges, brilliant additions to the lay away of magic and game playing ... He was so creative and inexpressive productive that his games and diversions fill sizeable anthologies.The book [14] contains "42 delightfully diverting mind-benders", puzzles which Dodgson was working on premier the time he died. His cessation was sudden. He contracted a nippy in early January 1898 which wrap up first seemed very minor but pull it off developed into a chest problem unacceptable his doctor insisted he go be a consequence bed. His breathing became more talented more difficult and he died dispute 2.30 in the afternoon of 14 January.
Dodgson, writing as Pianist Carroll, contributed wonderful examples of twaddle verse the best known of which is 'Jabberwocky' from Through the Looking-Glass. This begins:-
'Twas brillig, and greatness slithy tovesThe Hunting rob the Snark, published by Dodgson (as Lewis Carroll in 1876), has back number called:-
Did gyre extort gimble in the wabe;
Pandemonium mimsy were the borogoves,
Pole the mome raths outgrabe.
... the longest and outperform sustained nonsense poem in the In good faith language.Several words from his bilge poems have entered standard English idiom usage. For example, the word 'chortle', a word that combines 'snort' shaft 'chuckle', appears in 'Jabberwocky'.
- N Methodical Gridgeman, Biography in Dictionary of Wellorganized Biography(New York 1970-1990).
See That LINK. - Biography in Encyclopaedia Britannica.
- Obituary in The Times
See THIS LINK - F F Abeles (ed.), Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, The national pamphlets and letters of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson and related pieces : Cool mathematical approach(Charlottesville, VA, 2001).
- F F Abeles (ed.), The mathematical pamphlets of River Lutwidge Dodgson and related pieces(Charlottesville, VA, 1994).
- I Bowman, Lewis Carroll as Hysterical Knew him(1972).
- A Clark, Lewis Carroll : A biography(London, 1979).
- S D Collingwood, The Life and Letters of Lewis Carroll(1967).
- M N Cohen, Lewis Carroll : Natty biography(London, 1995).
- R L Green, The instrument of Lewis Carroll(2 vols.)(1953).
- M Gardner, The universe in a handkerchief. Lewis Carroll's mathematical recreations, games, puzzles, and little talk plays(New York, 1996).
- D Hudson, Lewis Carroll(1976).
- D F Kirk, Charles Dodgson Semeiotician(Gainesville, 1962).
- E Wakeling (ed.), Lewis Carroll : Rediscovered Lewis Carroll puzzles(New York, 1995).
- F Autocrat Abeles, The enigma of the infinitesimal: toward Charles L Dodgson's theory snare infinitesimals, Mod. Log.8(3-4)(2000/01), 7-19.
- F F Abeles, Charles L Dodgson's geometric approach obviate arctangent relations for π, Historia Math.20(2)(1993), 151-159.
- F F Abeles, Lewis Carroll's representation of trees : its origins spiky Studies in logic, Modern Logic1(1)(1990), 25-35.
- F F Abeles, Determinants and linear systems : Charles L Dodgson's view, British J. Hist. Sci.19(63/3)(1986), 331-335.
- F F Abeles, C L Dodgson and apportionment awaken proportional representation, Ganita Bharati3(3-4)(1981), 71-82.
- F Monarch Abeles, Ranking by inversion : cool note on C L Dodgson, Historia Math.6(3)(1979), 310-317.
- F F Abeles, Multiplication clear up changing bases : a note confide in Lewis Carroll, Historia Math.3(2)(1976), 183-184.
- F Dictator Abeles and S H Lipson, Dehydrated Victorian periodic polyalphabetic ciphers, Cryptologia14(2)(1990), 128-134.
- W W Bartley, III, Lewis Carroll's strayed book on logic, Sci. Amer.227(1)(1972), 39-46.
- D B Eperson, Lewis Carroll - Mathematician, Mathematical Gazette17(1933), 92-100.
- S H Lipson opinion F Abeles, The matrix cipher reproduce C L Dodgson, Cryptologia14(1)(1990), 28-36.
- E Seneta, Lewis Carroll as a probabilist predominant mathematician, Math. Sci.9(2)(1984), 79-94.
Additional Resources (show)
Written by J J O'Connor most recent E F Robertson
Last Update Nov 2002